Redondo Council approves agreement with union, interim city manager announced

At their meeting on Tuesday, April 15, Redondo Beach City Council announced they had reached an agreement with the Redondo Beach City Employees Association (CEA) to raise wages by four percent.

The memorandum of understanding grants the four percent raise retroactively from July 1, 2012 and will be in effect until June 30 of this year. The CEA and the city will negotiate a new contact in July.

Four years ago, city employees agreed to take a six percent cut in wages and benefits to help the ailing financial situation of their city. The employees expected restitution within two years. On March 18, the Redondo Beach City Council imposed a three percent wage increase for the CEA after negotiations reached an impasse.

The memorandum of understanding increased that pay raise to four percent and was approved unanimously by the council on April 15. It required a four-fifths vote to pass.

“A lot of work by our staff and the council and the CEA,” Mayor Steve Aspel said after the vote. We are not back to perfect yet but it’s a good step.”

Also announced at the April 15 meeting was the interim city manager, Joe Hoefgen. Hoefgen, who has been Community Services Director in Redondo Beach for three years, will act as city manager until the city hires someone to replace Bill Workman, who was fired earlier this month. His position as interim city manager was unanimously approved in closed session and announced as reportable action when open session convened.

“Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position and I am confident that he will guide us through this transition process,” said Aspel.